Chapel Hill Herald
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Mike Tapp, chief of the New Hope Fire Department, announced recently significant improvements in the Orange New Hope Fire District fire insurance ratings.
The new ratings should reduce the cost of fire insurance for property owners who live in the New Hope Fire District within five road miles of New Hope Station 1 at 4012 Whitfield Road or Station 2 at 4700 N.C. Hwy 86 South.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Wayne Goodwin announced that New Hope completed its routine inspection and received a 6/9E rating for the fire district. A class 6 is one of the best ratings a rural fire department can receive. For homeowner’s insurance, the rating will be effective Nov. 1.
The inspection, conducted by officials with the North Carolina Department of Insurance, Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM), is required on a regular basis as part of the North Carolina Response Rating System. Among other things, the routine inspections look for proper staffing levels, sufficient firefighting equipment, proper maintenance of equipment, 911 communications capabilities and availability of water sources.
Tapp said the process was a long one for the department. “Documenting and collecting required records took over a year to compile. New Hope firefighters worked and trained many additional hours to prepare for the evaluation,” he said.
“The results of that hard work should be reflected in a reduction of fire insurance costs to most homeowners in the district,” Tapp added.
The rating system ranges from Class 1 as the best to Class 10. Many rural fire departments are rated in the 9S category.
A better rating suggests that a fire department is overall better equipped to respond to fires in the district. Better ratings also can significantly lower homeowner’s insurance rates.
“I’d like to congratulate Chief Tapp for his department’s performance and for the hard work of all the department members,” said Goodwin in a news release. “The residents in the New Hope Fire District should rest easy knowing they have a fine group of firefighters protecting them and their property in case of an emergency.”
The rating was based on the department’s ability to adequately respond to and fight structure fires. In addition, New Hope Fire Department responds to woods fires, vehicle fires and wrecks, and provides search and rescue and medical first-responder services.
The department plans to send letters of notification to all property owners in the district. For additional information, call New Hope Station 1 at 919-493-1001 or visit the New Hope Fire Department website: http://www.newhopefire.com/ .
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